Question

India’s growing obsession with vehicles and failure to develop roads has increased air

pollution in most cities, the country’s pollution watchdog has revealed. In the past two

decades, the carrying capacity of roads increased by less than 2.5 per cent whereas the

number of vehicles grew at an annual rate of over 10 per cent. In 2008, in India, 12

million vehicles were plying on the 3.5 million km road network.

For people, its visible impact is the increased congestion on roads but what one didn’t

see was the higher air pollution. “Vehicles in major cities estimated to account for 70

per cent of carbon monoxide, 50 per cent of hydrocarbons and 30 per cent of suspended

particulate matter of the total pollution load of these cities,” the Central Pollution

Control Board (CPCB) said in its report on Wednesday. Four metros and cities such as

Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kanpur are among the worst affected.

The report said that the high concentration of pollutants like carbon monoxide and

hydrocarbons cause lung cancer and asthma, besides routine breathing problems. So

far, ironically, because of a lower level of income thresholds, the Indian market has

favoured small cars and two-wheelers. As small engines use less fuel, the average fleet-

wide fuel consumption is expected to be low. But already, with rising income levels,

there is a steady shift towards bigger cars that use more fuel. Taking their place are

biker cars in compact, mid-size and high-end segments. Therefore, standards can make

a significant difference in India.

1. What is the major cause of air pollution in India?

2. What has increased more than the carrying capacity of the roads?

3. What causes lung cancer and asthma?

4. Why do Indians favour small cars and two-wheelers?

5. Which word in the passage means ‘mixing with inferior material’?

(i) concentration (ii) adulteration (iii) phenomenon (iv) congestion

6. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘collection’?

(i) concentration (ii) phenomenon (iii) pollution (iv) growth
7. Find the word opposite in meaning to ‘achievement’.

(i) impact (ii) failure (iii) expiry (iv) difference​

Answer 1

Answer:

India's growing obsession with vehicles and failure to develop roads has increased air pollution in most cities, the country's pollution watchdog has revealed, in the past two decades, the carrying capacity of roads increased by less than 2.5 percent.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

be seen as an alternative for a better candidate than the one of them.